Rationality

The human brain is the most complex physical entity in the universe.

Rationality is the property of doing or believing what reason requires. There are two types of rationality:

• 'Epistemic rationality is about what we believe, whether our beliefs are rational given the evidence we have available to us. For example, Tom believes his teacher is an adulterer because he read it written on the walls of the school bathroom, and because he doesn't like his teacher. Tom's belief is irrational, because it is based on an unreliable source of knowledge (the bathroom wall) and his own personal dislike
• Instrumental rationality is about doing what is sensible given our goals. Tom wants to go to law school one day; but instead of studying he plays computer games. Tom's behavior is not rational, because it undermines the goal he has set for himself. On the other hand, if Tom wants to have a career as a janitor instead of going to law school, then playing computer games is not irrational for him.

Rational thinking

See also: Rational thinking

Rational thinking refers to one's ability to process information/data and engage in decision making and problem solving based on logic, facts, and evidence rather than on illogical thinking, irrational thinking, delusional thinking, cognitive biases and personal biases.

Epistemic rationality

A Venn diagram picturing the traditional definition of knowledge as justified true belief (That is represented by the yellow circle).

See also: Epistemology

Epistemic rationality is about conforming our beliefs to the evidence avaialble. Rationality and truth are not the same thing; if all the evidence supports a falsehood, then it is rational to believe it despite its falsehood. Likewise, something may be true, yet irrational to believe - considering the example above, Tom's belief that his teacher is an adulterer is irrational, since he bases his belief on unreliable evidence; it may well be that his teacher is in fact an adulterer, but while Tom's belief would then be true, it would still be irrational for Tom, since Tom lacks any good evidence for that belief.

Rationality and ethics

Both rationality and ethics are deeply connected, in that they are both systems which value events positively or negatively, and impose upon us obligations and prohibitions. Ethics labels actions as good or bad; rationality likewise labels beliefs as rational or irrational. Ethics says, Do this, but do not do that; rationality says, Believe this, but do not believe that.

Very often, ethics requires us to be rational. If I am a doctor, and I am going to prescribe a treatment to a patient, I must rationally believe the treatment is effective. Suppose I have a patient suffering from cancer; I read about a new anti-cancer drug in a reputable medical journal, so I believe it is effective, and prescribe it to my patient. I have done the right thing by my patient, ethically; even if it turns out the drug is ineffective or harmful, I discharged my ethical duty to my patient based by following the best information available to me. Suppose instead, I went to a psychic and asked what I should prescribe my patient for their cancer. The psychic responds, The spirits tell me, your patient has cancer because they did not eat enough cabbage!. So, I prescribe them a diet of cabbage as a treatment of cancer. Here, I have ethically wronged my patient, because I have prescribed a treatment, which while I believe it to be effective, my belief that it is effective is irrational.

Rationality and atheistic materialism

A purely materialistic worldview cannot adequately explain the objectivity of ethics, nor can it adequately explain the objectivity of rationality. By contrast, a theistic worldview can give a coherent explanation of the origin of rationality - God's mind is perfectly rational, and our minds are rational insofar as they operate like God's mind. The atheist cannot have an objective standard of rationality, so their rationality is reduced to nothing more than their own personal biases and prejudices.

Atheists attempt to cover over their lack of any rational foundations by pretending that what is rational is undisputed and obvious to everyone. However, just as there are genuine disputes concerning what is right and wrong, there are also genuine disputes concerning what is rational and irrational. Atheists have no way of resolving these disputes other than by appeal to their own personal whims or fancies, because they lack any objective standard against which those disputes can be measured. Religious believers, by contrast, have an objective standard for rationality, the perfectly rational nature of God.

How to think more rationally

Aristotle is often called the father of logic in the West.

See also: Rational thinking and Evidence-based thinking and Critical thinking and Scientific method and Problem solving and Openness and Intellectual humility and Intellectual curiosity and Creativity and Change management and Emotional intelligence and Self-awareness and Self-regulation and Metacognition

To think more rationally, use the following practices:

1. Use evidence-based thinking and critical thinking

2. Use the reasonable person standard used in the field law when engaged in decision making. "This is a common law idea, which asks the question of how a reasonable person would have behaved in circumstances similar to those with which the defendant was presented at the time of the alleged negligence."

3. Analyze problems/situations logically when engaged in problem solving. See: Problem solving

4. Questioning your assumptions. See also: Openness and Intellectual humility and Intellectual curiosity and Creativity

5. Being observant and open to engaging in experimentation in order to optimize results. See also: Observation skills and Scientific method and Deliberate practice and Comfort zone and Peak performance

6. Being open to changing your mind based on new evidence. See: Openness and Intellectual humility and Intellectual curiosity and Creativity and Change management

7. Seeking out information from diverse perspectives. See also: Openness and Creativity and Innovation

8. Focus on actively identifying and managing your emotions. Avoiding impulsive judgments based solely on feelings. See: Emotional intelligence and Self-awareness and Self-regulation and Metacognition

9. Plan and organize your life/activities to a reasonable degree allowing for unforeseeable circumstances, common sense flexibility/adaptability and God's will. Prioritize your activities in a way to best optimize your future. Make the best use of the resources you have available. See: Planning and and Organizational skills and Time management and Forecasting and Creativity and Problem solving and Resourcefulness

Quote

"No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude." - Karl Popper

Book

• The Thinker's Way: 8 Steps to a Richer Life by John Chafee. The Thinker's Way : 8 Steps to a Richer Life
• Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dr. Dan Ariely. ASIN: 0061353248. Harper Perennial. April 27, 2010

See also

• Rational thinking
• Logic
• Critical thinking
• Graham's hierarchy of disagreement

Opposite:

• Irrational thinking

External links

• Rationality, Britannica
• How to Train Yourself to Be a More Rational Thinker, The Cut
• Rational Thinking: The Key to Making Better Decisions and Solving Problems
• How to begin living more rationally